Never My Girl (Always, Maybe, Never Book 3)

by S. Herrera

  “There's vanilla ice cream.” She teases, catching me off guard and pushes me off the couch before I can regain my composure.

  She jumps up and runs into the kitchen while I pick myself up off the floor. As always, I follow her, wondering what exactly she is up to.

  “I would much rather have you than cake, Sawyer.”

  “No! I spent hours on this cake and the frosting. You’re eating the cake.” She points the knife she's using to cut the cake at me. “Plus, it's your mom's recipe.” She says a little bashfully.

  I beam at her. I’ve had her back for only an hour, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

  “What?” I can see a blush creeping from her neck up to her cheeks.

  I step around the counter, grabbing the back of her neck and pull her in for a kiss. Knowing that I will never let her go. My heart wouldn’t survive losing her again.

  chapter twenty-two

  “Knock, Knock,” I yell out as I open the front door to Knox and Everly's home without actually knocking.

  It's Friendsgiving, Wren is home after nearly winning the World Series, and we are all finally going to be together in one place.

  “I wonder if Knox is going to come running downstairs with lipstick on his face again this year.” I say to Wyatt in a voice that sounds like I'm trying to be quiet, but truly I hope my brother hears me.

  “Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious Sawyer.” Knox shouts from the dining room.

  Wyatt and I walk into the room where we find both Knox and Everly setting food out on the table. Right in the middle sits a turkey centerpiece with orange, red, and brown leaves around the edge, placed on top of a brown plaid table runner. As usual, Everly has the cutest decorations.

  I laugh at his total lack of enthusiasm. I’ve been laughing more and more since our time at the cabin, and it feels good. “Good to see that you only have a little bit on your cheek.” I tease.

  Knox whips around to scowl at Everly, who isn't even wearing lipstick today, and furiously wipes at his cheek. She just started her third trimester and is dealing with a sixteen-month-old Emmy who is going through another sleep regression. She looks exhausted.

  “Is there anything I can do to help, Ev?” I follow her into the kitchen, hoping to make myself useful.

  “If you want to grab the desserts and set them on the island that would be great!” Her attitude is still as happy as ever.

  “Sure.” I start by grabbing pie pans from the counter and moving them to the island separating their kitchen and dining room.

  Eventually I come to two small cakes. One chocolate, and one vanilla. “What are the cakes for?”

  “Well, some little birdie told me that you don't actually like pie. And while I think that has to be a sin, I want both of you to enjoy your dessert, because otherwise it really would be a sin.” She smirks at me before adding, “And I hear it's got a special meaning for you guys.”

  I'm thankful when she leaves the kitchen heading back to the dining room because I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks. She couldn't possibly know everything.

  At the cabin, when things were getting a little hot and heavy between me and Wyatt, I distracted him with cake and ice cream. Which turned into something messy and delicious in a whole new way. But he wouldn’t have told her about that…

  “Hey, babe. What’s got you looking so flustered?” Wyatt walks up and wraps his arms around my waist, resting them on my lower back.

  “Why exactly does Everly think cake has a “special meaning” to us?” I ask, using air quotes to get my point across.

  He chuckles and looks away before answering. “Well, I told her that we bonded over our love of cake and dislike of pie last year at Friendsgiving. Why, what came to mind?”

  My face must be as red as my hair because that was the last thing that came to mind. But I will never admit that to him.

  Wyatt just laughs again and kisses me, soft and sweet.

  It's only been a month since we got back together. And though there have been some difficult talks, it's been great. I even asked him last night to move into the condo with me. Since we got back from the cabin, he has been with me nearly every night, just like before.

  He said that he wanted time to think about it considering everything, which I understand, though it's a little disappointing. I missed having him in my space so much that I don't want to give any of that time up. He made a good point though—he's paid through the semester and that would be the best time to make the decision. I'm sure I will have no problem convincing him by then.

  “Charlotte and Wren just got here. Let's go eat.” He releases me, taking ahold of my hand and leading me into the dining room where our friends are gathering around the table.

  As I take my seat, I take a moment to thank all my lucky stars that aligned just right to bring me this moment. This wonderful man by my side, the smiles and chatter of those I have come to love dearly, and the little pitter patter of my niece’s feet as she runs into my open arms. I haul her up into my lap as Wren leads us in saying grace and my brother carves the turkey.

  As we sit around the table eating, Wren gives us a play by play of the seventh and final game in the World Series. They lost, but it was a close game. Sawyer and I had watched, curled up on her couch and forgetting about the rest of the world.

  I find it easy to do with her by my side. I look to my left, where Sawyer is sitting. She’s wearing her hair down and curly tonight, and it’s taking all my self-control to not run my fingers through it. It feels like every moment with her I’m waiting until I can get her alone and all to myself. Two months isn’t long in the grand scheme of things, but right now, it feels like too much time was lost.

  “So, Wyatt,” Wren starts, an already smug look on his face. “How are med-school interviews going?”

  I smirk because he already knows, but he wants everyone else to know just how right he was. “Good, I’ve only been to two so far, Duke Med and UNC.”

  “Ah, I see. The local ones.”

  “Well, if he gets the call from John Hopkins or Columbia, I’m making him go. I loved it in Baltimore, and I’ve always wanted to go to New York.” Sawyer pipes in.

  “How do you know that I even applied to those schools? I really just want to stay in Durham at Duke.” I cross my arms and lean back in my chair, feigning nonchalance.

  “Because that’s who you are as a person. You apply to the dream schools, even if you think you don’t really want to leave.” She squeezes my shoulder and gives me a look that says, I’ve got your number.

  “Okay, fine. Maybe I did.” I admit. “But that doesn’t really change anything for me. I want to be here.”

  “Did you miss the part where I said I would follow you?”

  “Did you miss the part where I didn’t ask you?” The look utter disbelief on her face is comical, and I make the mistake of expressing that. When the laugh slips past my lips, her eyes narrow into slits, so I talk fast. “You have just gotten your life settled, I’m not going to ask you to leave if we don’t have to. I want to stay here and be close to our family and friends while we can, because when it comes to my residency, I may not have a choice.”

  I slide my hand into hers and bring it to my lips. Our friends get the hint that the moment has turned private, focusing on the food in front of them and making small talk.

  “I don’t care where we are as long as I’m with you.” Her words are said low enough so that only I can hear them, as she looks up at me from beneath her long, dark lashes.

  “Same.” I kiss her forehead at the same time that Emmy squeals from across the table, banging her hands down on her plate and sending sweet potatoes flying.

  We all look to her at the end of the table, and she giggles while her parents groan. As usual this sweet girl steals the show and puts a smile on our faces. Sawyer stands from the table and picks Emmy up out of her seat, offering to clean her up so Everly can get the gooey orange potato out of her hair.

  I watch her leave the room
, Charlotte following closely behind to lend a hand wherever she is needed. Leaving me alone with Wren and Knox, whose stares I can feel on me.

  “Yes?” I finally tear my eyes away from where Sawyer left and look at them.

  “You've got it so bad. I didn't even realize how bad, but now that I can see it in person.” Wren laughs and turns to Knox. “You weren't kidding.”

  Knox shakes his head and points at me, “No, I'm not. You should have seen the shape this guy was in. He would have given you a run for your money in the mopey department.” He cringes at the memory.

  I don’t deny it because it’s all true. I am ridiculously in love with Sawyer.

  Tonight, I’m going to tell her that I’m moving in this weekend and that I was an idiot to suggest we wait. I was trying to be logical about the decision, but I just don’t see the point in putting it off. Not too long ago I wanted to know that Sawyer was all in, now it’s my turn to show her that I am.

  epilogue

  Four and a half years later

  I wake up, stretching and rolling over to face a peaceful, sleeping Wyatt. Reaching up, I brush the shaggy hair off his forehead. He's been so busy lately that he hasn’t made an appointment and it’s grown out a bit longer than usual.

  Even though it’s been two weeks since he finished med school here at Duke, things haven’t settled down quite yet. Just yesterday, I completed the Sports Administration graduate program here at NCU. After majoring in Sports Administration, I took a year off to build my portfolio by working for Knox, then entered the graduate program. I did my paid internship in football operations. Knox and Wyatt were crushed by this decision. But I never claimed to be a baseball girl.

  Wyatt only has three more weeks left until it's time for him to start his residency at Duke University Hospital. When he does, I will start working with Knox and get on my NFLPA certification to be an agent to NFL players.

  I was able to keep my assistant coaching job at Chapel Hill High, and at the end of last track season, I was offered Coach Martin’s position come next spring. Knox and I agreed that I could go part time on office hours during the season.

  In the meantime, Wyatt's asked me not to make any plans for the next two weeks. We are going to have a little vacation, just the two of us. He wants us to spend this time together before we’re both taking on new jobs and responsibilities. And I’m all for it.

  He mentioned possibly staying at a bed and breakfast a few towns over or maybe going to the lake and staying at the cabin. I'm excited to find out all the details, so I continue to watch him. Maybe if I stare at him long enough, he will wake up.

  “You know, I can feel you staring at me.” He grumbles without opening his eyes.

  “I want to know about our vacation.” I insist, moving in closer to him.

  He opens his eyes and pulls me to him for a quick kiss then releases me. “Pack a big suitcase and get your passport.” Wyatt sits up in the bed, leaning on the headboard and sporting a lazy grin.

  I’m momentarily distracted when the blanket falls lower, exposing his bare chest. “Wait, my passport?”

  “Yes. Now, stop eyeing me like a piece of meat.” He teases, pulling the blanket all the way up to his ears.

  “Wyatt, where are we going?”

  “Start packing.” He closes the space between us, pressing a soft kiss to my lips this time and barely pulling away as he speaks. “We have a flight this evening… to Ireland.”

  I didn’t believe Wyatt at first when he told me. But when he explained that he'd been saving for this trip the last few years as a present, it made me fall for him just a little harder. I didn't think that was possible.

  Now as our plane circles for a landing, I stare out at the breathtaking landscape. The fields are green and vast right up to the cliffs’ edge, leading down to the crashing waves below.

  It’s been my dream to visit Ireland since I was a little girl. It became one of my favorite places after watching a movie that was filmed in a tiny Irish village. As Sean Thornton fell in love with the red-haired hothead, Mary Kate Danaher, I fell head over heels for Ireland. Ever since then, when I think of Ireland, I think of love. So, it's perfect, that of all the places, Wyatt brought me here.

  Without taking my eyes off the view below, I reach for Wyatt's hand, holding it tight in mine. “Thank you for making this dream come true.” I turn to find him watching me with a smile on his face.

  “I want to make all of your dreams come true, Sawyer.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses softly.

  This man is everything, and it’s in this moment that I realize, I can’t imagine my life without him in it. We’ve had our difficulties in the last four years with everything that we've been taking on between school and starting our careers. But we got through it together, supporting each other the whole way.

  Wyatt has been my rock, my best friend, and my love.

  The plane lands and I walk quickly through the airport, rushing Wyatt along. We barely step out into the rainy afternoon before my eyes start wandering, taking in everything I can, which isn’t much more than grass and the rest of the airport buildings.

  “What's the plan?”

  “I've got many plans for us.” A sly grin crosses his face as he cups my neck, pulling me into an almost inappropriate kiss. “Like, your first kiss in Ireland.”

  “I’m serious,” I push at his chest, making him look down at me. “Where are we going first? Where are we staying?”

  He laughs before answering, “We’re staying at a manor that’s been turned into a hotel. You’re going to love it. I thought we could start there, rest up a bit then head out to explore.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  I roll over in bed and groan. Sawyer is once again awake and watching me sleep. She had me walking all over town until late in the evening. Saying that she didn't want to miss anything or waste a second of her time to explore. And it fills me with pride that I’m able to be the one to give this to her.

  “Well, we can do whatever you want this morning, but this afternoon we have a tour and tasting of the Jameson Distillery, courtesy of Knox.” I tell her, closing my eyes again.

  Our friends might have helped me out just a little when it came to planning things for us to do on this trip. They were all in on it over the last six months since I started booking the flights and our room.

  But I've been planning the trip for years. There was a time when I thought I might propose to her on this trip. Until I realized that not being married doesn't take anything away from our relationship or the way that I feel about Sawyer. Would I love to be able to call her my wife and be lucky enough to have her call me her husband? Absolutely. And maybe I will, someday when she is ready.

  I crack my eyes open, just enough to peak out of the corner. “You're still watching me.”

  “Because you haven't gotten up yet. Let's go have a traditional Irish breakfast, then we can tour more of the town before heading to the distillery.” Excitement is clear in her voice, and I only want to make her happy.

  “Alright, I’m getting up.” I slowly climb out of the bed, while she hops off the bed and bounds into the bathroom to get ready. I shake my head, laughing. I’m thankful that we get this time together before our lives are turned upside down again with changes.

  Shaking those thoughts away, I dig through the suitcase finding clothes for the day. Once I’m dressed, I prepare myself for a long day of walking and exploring again, knowing that she will want to see all there is to see.

  For not being a whiskey man, I still enjoyed the tour of the distillery. The process was fascinating to watch, and Sawyer loved the tasting. We made sure to buy a few bottles to take back for Knox, along with a pair of Jameson cuff links that Sawyer found.

  Sawyer and I walk hand in hand down the cobblestone path between buildings, back to the main building to have dinner. The rain starts as a drizzle and we pick up our pace, but it quicky turns into a downpour. I pull Sawyer into an alcove against the stone buil
ding and out of the rain.

  We’re so close that I can smell the whiskey on her breath. I lean in, taking her mouth and tasting the whiskey. I kiss her senseless as the rain falls around us.

  She pushes at my chest and breaks our kiss. “Wyatt.”

  “Sawyer,” I say, mocking her serious tone and leaning back in for a kiss but her words stop me.

  “Marry me.”

  My heart stops in my chest, but I laugh it off. “Yeah, okay. That’s just the whiskey talking.” I try to kiss her again to avoid the conversation.

  “No, I mean it. You know I didn’t have very much.” She swats at my arm. “I just— I love you, Wyatt, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me.”

  I laugh again, but this time it’s with happiness and disbelief. “Of course, I’ll marry you.” This time she pulls me in to kiss her, consume her.

  I press my forehead to hers, my lips grazing hers with every word. “We should probably get out of the rain.”

  She nods, but neither of us makes a move to go.

  “I want to elope and get married here.” Her emerald eyes meet mine, and I know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

  “As you wish.”

  bonus epilogue

  Six years later

  The sounds of laughter and kids playing flood in through the open doors on the back deck. I follow that joyous sound, resting my shoulder against the door jamb, as I watch the kids run around the yard.

  Today, Charlotte and Wren’s youngest, Grace, turns three years old. We have all gathered to celebrate the little blue-eyed blondie that looks just like her mama. Easton, Charlotte and Wren's oldest, looks just like his dad and has those same protective instincts when it comes to his sister.

  I watch as Grace runs circles in the yard and Easton never takes his eyes off her, worried that she might get hurt. Some of the older kids are playing tag and narrowly miss her each time they make a pass through her side of the yard.